The largest and wildest of Madrid's parks, Casa de Campo was once a royal hunting estate but it is now a place where madrileños escape from the frenetic city life.

Many people just head for the cafés and bars around the lake, but there are jogging and mountain-bike trails, football pitches, tennis courts and an outdoor swimming pool (next to Lago metro station) too.

Within lies the Zoo and a perennially popular Parque de Atracciones theme park. You can also take a ride over the park on the old-fashioned cable car known as el Teleférico that shuttles people out on the round trip from the base station on Paseo del Pintor Rosales.

Metro Lago and Batán